35-105 USM or 35-135 USM?

Hi all, <br>Basically I need to bridge the gap between my 22-55 USM

and soon-to- be-bought 100-300 USM (I did have a nasty 35-80 when I

first started using EOS, but this was non-USM and not very nice at

all so I sold it). <br><br>I'm saving for either a 35-105 USM or 35-

135 USM, both of which are stocked at a second hand mailorder shop;

any comments/opinions on these lenses? I can't get to the shop to try

the lenses out myself, and no shops near me have one in so if you

have any experience of them, I'd like to hear your views.

<br><br>According to the shop, both lenses are in similar condition.

Ideally I'd like the 35-135 for the extra 30mm on the long end, and

although the 35-105 is much cheaper, I would rather fork out for the

35-135 if it's really worth the extra money (i.e. higher quality).

<br><br>Thanks <br><br>Lee

The 35-105 USM was a cheap kit lens for the EOS 1000N and 1000FN, along with the USM version of the cheap 35-80 you already had. They were the first two micro-USM lenses, and both are all-plastic, and the optics of both are decidedly suspect, as with most kit lenses.

 

The 35-135 USM is an entirely different proposition. This was the standard lens for the EOS 10, and was the first non-L-series ring-USM lens (swiftly followed up with the 70-210 USM and 100-300 USM). It has the usual ring-USM consumer lens design, with full-time manual focusing on a small ring at the back of the lens, and twist-action zoom. The front element does not move or rotate during focus. This lens was effectively replaced by the 28-105 and more completely by the 28-135IS.

 

The 35-135 is the better built, optically better lens.

 

Also note that there's a non-USM 35-105, which is another wildly different lens, with push-pull zoom and AFD focusing.

<P>I'd spring for the EF 35-135 4.5-5.6 USM. It's a bit slow aperture-wise, but is excellent optically, has FTM, internal focus, metal mount and the ring-USM rips. It was one of the best "kit" lenses offered by Canon (the EF 28-105 3.5-4.5 USM and EOS 5/A2 was the other excellent kit lens combo). I bought an EF 35-135 4.5-5.6 USM in the early 1990s. My two EOS 10s cameras are long gone but the lens still lives on my wife's Elan 7.</P>

 

<P> I wrote a review of the EF 35-135 4.5-5.6 USM:</P>

 

<P><A HREF="http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/frary/toolbox2.htm">http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/frary/toolbox2.htm</A></P>

You should consider that a new EF 28-105 3.5-4.5 USM II costs about $225 new at B&H. I wouldn't pay more than $125 for the EF 35-135 USM, and only if it's in excellent+ or better condition.

Thanks <i>very</i> much for your answers, your info is greatly appreciated. I will definitely go for the 35-135 USM, no doubt now. Thanks again! :)

<br><br>

-Lee

I'm getting my 35-135 USM tommorow, I bought it second hand in E++ condition for £125. I'll let you know how it goes!

(Un)interestingly enough, I didn't buy either; I bought the 28-105 instead.